Tofu, tempe factories in Bogor stop production
Bogor, W Java (ANTARA News) - Most tofu and tempe (fermented soybean cake) producers have temporarily stopped production as a solidarity with their colleagues who staged a rally in front of the Merdeka Palace here on Monday following the recent soyabean highrocketing price.
Some of the tofu and tempe producers reduced their production due to drastic soyabean price hike, while the rest stop producing temporarily as a solidarity with 3,000 of their colleagues staging the rally in front of the palace.
Musa, tempe factory owner in Tegallega village in Bogor city complained about the soaring price (more than 100 percent) which happened since November last year.
"Now the soyabean price reaches Rp8,000 per kg compared to Rp3,500 per kg," he told Antara.
According to him, it is impossible to raise the price of tempe and tofu because market price should be competitive.
Thus, the more than 100 percent increase in the prices of the products had caused a loss to the producers.
Musa who needs some 200 kg of soyabean for his products daily refused to specify his profit and loss.
"If the soyabean price continued to increase, my business may fall bankrupt," he cited.
In Jakarta, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) asked the relevant ministers to discuss and deal with the problem of the soybean price hike which has badly affected tofu and tempe producers.
"President SBY likes tofu and tempe very much. He has instructed the trade and agriculture ministers to meet tofu and tempe producers and deal with the price hike problem," presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng said after receiving representatives of tofu and tempe producers staging the rally in front of the Merdeka Palace. (*)
Some of the tofu and tempe producers reduced their production due to drastic soyabean price hike, while the rest stop producing temporarily as a solidarity with 3,000 of their colleagues staging the rally in front of the palace.
Musa, tempe factory owner in Tegallega village in Bogor city complained about the soaring price (more than 100 percent) which happened since November last year.
"Now the soyabean price reaches Rp8,000 per kg compared to Rp3,500 per kg," he told Antara.
According to him, it is impossible to raise the price of tempe and tofu because market price should be competitive.
Thus, the more than 100 percent increase in the prices of the products had caused a loss to the producers.
Musa who needs some 200 kg of soyabean for his products daily refused to specify his profit and loss.
"If the soyabean price continued to increase, my business may fall bankrupt," he cited.
In Jakarta, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) asked the relevant ministers to discuss and deal with the problem of the soybean price hike which has badly affected tofu and tempe producers.
"President SBY likes tofu and tempe very much. He has instructed the trade and agriculture ministers to meet tofu and tempe producers and deal with the price hike problem," presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng said after receiving representatives of tofu and tempe producers staging the rally in front of the Merdeka Palace. (*)